We Need to Talk About...

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We are always looking for ways to amplify supporters' voices, hear your reflections on the big news stories of the moment, and connect our readers with our newsroom. We hope that this monthly podcast will enable us to do just this – providing a platform for journalists, Guardian supporters and indus…

The Guardian


    • Apr 1, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 14m AVG DURATION
    • 115 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from We Need to Talk About...

    Weekend: episode two of a new podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2022 49:39


    Ease into the weekend with our brand new podcast, showcasing some of the best Guardian and Observer writing from the week, read by talented narrators. In this episode, Marina Hyde looks at the new additions to Downing Street (2m00s), Hadley Freeman interviews Hollywood actor Will Arnett (9m56s), Sirin Kale tries her hand at quiz show Mastermind (26m32s), and David Robson examines why we're so stressed about stress (41m08s). If you like what you hear, subscribe to Weekend on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

    Weekend: episode one of a new podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2022 48:45


    Ease into the weekend with our brand new podcast, showcasing some of the best Guardian and Observer writing from the week, read by talented narrators. In our first episode, Marina Hyde reflects on another less than stellar week for Boris Johnson (1m38s), Edward Helmore charts the rise of Joe Rogan (9m46s), Laura Snapes goes deep with singer George Ezra (18m30s), and Alex Moshakis asks, “Are you a jerk at work?” (34m40s). If you like what you hear, subscribe to Weekend on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts

    Comfort Eating with Grace Dent: episode one of a new podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2021 39:46


    Have you ever wondered what famous people actually eat? In our new podcast, Guardian restaurant critic Grace Dent does just that, asking well-known guests to lift the lid on the food they turn to when they're at home alone – and what comfort foods have seen them through their lives. In the first episode, screenwriter Russell T Davies tells Grace about his childhood in Swansea, the delights of Woolworth's pork and egg pies, and how his husband's death informed his latest TV series, It's a Sin. Future guests will include Nish Kumar, Rafe Spall and Aisling Bea. Episodes willl be released every Tuesday – search for it wherever you get your podcasts

    Reverberate: episode 1 of our new series

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2021 25:34


    The Guardian has launched a new series called Reverberate that we think you’ll like. Each week, Chris Michael will explore incredible stories from around the world about when music shook history. In the first episode, we hear from Kashy Keegan, an unknown singer-songwriter in a sleepy English town who became the voice of Hong Kong’s nascent pro-democracy movement. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts to hear the rest of the series

    Innermost: another episode of our new series

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2020 20:21


    We wanted to bring you another episode from our Innermost series. In the last episode of our first season, two callers tell Leah Green how their relationships sent them down unexpected paths, one with criminal consequences Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts to hear the rest of the series

    Innermost: episode 1 of a new series

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2020 16:34


    The Guardian has launched a new series called Innermost that we think you will like. Each week, callers will tell Leah Green what’s going on behind closed doors. In the first episode, we hear how an uncle’s funeral and meals with an emotionally distant brother help James and Jess think about their families in new and unexpected ways. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts to hear the rest of the series

    We need to talk about … the environmental impact of our fashion addiction

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2019 66:10


    This episode of our podcast series examines the environmental impact of our shopping habits and the seemingly unstoppable rise of ‘fast fashion’

    We need to talk about … education

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2019 59:51


    Guardian journalists, supporters and industry experts discuss what education systems around the world can learn from each other and how to enable change

    Guardian podcast: We need to talk about … the death of the high street

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2018 55:48


    Guardian journalists, supporters and industry experts discuss the failing health of UK high streets and the impact on communities. What can local spaces offer that out-of-town shopping centres and online giants can’t?

    We need to talk about...Extinction

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2018 59:37


    George Monbiot and wildlife experts discuss the increasingly devastating impacts of human behaviour on fauna and flora, and what can be done to protect species, locally and globally

    We need to talk about … the impact of artificial intelligence

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2018 54:59


    In this monthly podcast, Guardian supporters share their experiences and put questions to a panel of journalists and industry experts. This episode focuses on the rise of artificial intelligence in business and wider society. How will this evolving technology affect our lives, and how might the threats be ameliorated?

    Podcast: why is positive news coverage so vital in today's world?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2018 53:25


    This episode of our regular podcast focuses on the impact of the modern news cycle on our health and wellbeing, and whether a greater focus on positive, hopeful, solution-based stories could help to mitigate this

    Podcast: We need to talk about … the rise of veganism

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2018 67:02


    In this monthly podcast, Guardian supporters share their experiences and put questions to a panel of journalists and industry experts. This episode focuses on veganism’s evolution into a mainstream lifestyle choice. What does it mean to become a vegan and what impact could veganism have on climate change, animal welfare and personal wellbeing?

    We need to talk about … the future of journalism

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2018 34:29


    Guardian supporters pose the questions as The Guardian’s editor-in-chief, Katharine Viner, discusses the challenges facing journalism and her vision for the Guardian. Hosted by The Guardian’s joint political editor, Heather Stewart

    We need to talk about … finding common ground

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2017 56:25


    Guardian supporters set the agenda and feature in this podcast considering whether society is becoming more polarised – and if so, how we might tackle the issue. With Jon Henley, Dawn Foster, Elle Hunt and Joseph Harker.

    We need to talk about … Population and climate change

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2017 66:19


    In this monthly podcast, Guardian supporters ask the questions and a Guardian panel try to provide the answers. This episode focuses on whether people should be having fewer children for the sake of the planet – and if so, how that societal change might happen

    We need to talk about...Brexit

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2017 74:25


    A monthly podcast in which Guardian journalists tackle a topic suggested by Guardian members and answer their questions on it. In this edition, Vicky Frost, the Guardian’s deputy membership editor, discusses Brexit with Lisa O’Carroll, Zoe Williams, Dan Roberts and Larry Elliott

    We need to talk about...Nationalism

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2017 42:50


    A monthly podcast in which Guardian journalists tackle a topic suggested by Guardian members and answer their questions on it. In this edition, Vicky Frost, the Guardian’s deputy membership editor, discusses the global rise of nationalism with Randeep Ramesh, Iman Amrani and Ewen MacAskill

    Feed change - We need to talk about ... Members podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2017 1:17


    This feed is changing from Live events to our new monthly Membership podcast, We need to talk about …

    We need to talk about... public healthcare

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2017 60:10


    Is it reasonable to expect the state to provide universal healthcare? Vicky Frost and a panel including the Guardian’s Sarah Boseley and Denis Campbell answer Guardian members’ questions about the challenges facing public healthcare

    We need to talk about protest – Guardian Members' exclusive podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2017 57:50


    From protests against President Trump and Brexit, to Romanian anti-corruption demonstrations and the people defending threats to local libraries – we appear to be living in a new age of resistance. But how can we maintain momentum? And what can we really achieve? In this edition of our podcast for Guardian Members we discuss the power and danger of protest

    Michael Chabon on The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay – books podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2017 40:50


    The Pulitzer prize-winning novelist looks back on a modern classic at a Guardian book club event

    We need to talk about climate change – Guardian Members' exclusive podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2017 49:24


    What will a Trump presidency mean for the future of the planet? In the first of our new monthly podcasts for Guardian members, in which expert panelists and journalists tackle your queries on the subjects you consider most pressing, we consider climate change policy in the Trump era. What should we expect – and what can we do about it?

    The rise of Donald Trump - Guardian Live event podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2016 92:15


    It is an election result that has left the US and the rest of the world reeling, that saw a man with no record in any political office, a reality TV star who has boasted about sexually assaulting women, become the 45th US president. The Guardian’s special projects editor Mark Rice-Oxley and a panel of columnists discuss the reasons for Trump’s success and the Democrats’ failure

    Utopia 2016: how to die a good death – Guardian Live event podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2016 88:53


    By turning away from death, by ignoring its inevitability, are we making our death more distressing for ourselves and for our loved ones? Giles Fraser and an expert panel shed some light on the positive things that can happen when we face this entirely natural part of life

    Can the Labour party rebuild and win? Guardian Live event – audio

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2016 98:17


    The Guardian’s political editor Anushka Asthana alongside Paul Mason, Rafael Behr, Hugh Muir, Polly Toynbee and John Harris reflect on the tumultuous battle for the heart of the Labour party and ask whether Labour regain power?

    The Guardian Live interview with Ed Balls and Jonathan Freedland

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2016 77:21


    From the Labour conference in Liverpool, Ed Balls talks to the Guardian’s Jonathan Freedland about his memoir, his views on Labour’s survival and whether he’ll return to politics after Strictly Come Dancing

    Gary Younge: Another day in the death of America - Guardian Live event

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2016 85:13


    On an average day in America, seven children and teens will be shot dead. At a Guardian Members’ event Gary Younge discusses his 18-month investigation into the lives lost during a single day – 23 November 2013

    The Observer interview with Nick Clegg and Andrew Rawnsley – Gdn Live

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2016 64:33


    Nick Clegg, former deputy prime minister, joins the Observer’s Andrew Rawnsley to discuss his time in government and the current turmoil in mainstream politics

    Tim Farron talks to Heather Stewart – Guardian Live interview

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2016 66:48


    The Lib Dem leader talks to the Guardian’s political editor about Brexit, his party’s future and potential alliances

    Crisis on the left: what's the future of progressive politics? – Guardian Live

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2016 89:28


    John Harris, a cross-party panel and Guardian Members ask if the only way to defeat the Tories is to create a more representative, pluralist politics on the left

    How to live a happy life – Guardian Live event

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2016 82:03


    Dawn Foster asks a UTOPIA 2016/Guardian Live panel what makes us happy and whether happiness is now a marker for success that causes anxiety

    What did the 80s do for us? – Guardian Live event with Alexei Sayle

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2016 83:38


    ‘The godfather of alternative comedy’ takes a walk down memory lane with the Guardian’s Andy Beckett to understand the impact of a tumultuous decade

    Rose Tremain on her novel The Gustav Sonata - Books podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2016 59:57


    Orange Prize winner Rose Tremain gives an account of writing her latest book, The Gustav Sonata

    AI, augmented reality and the future of gaming – Guardian live event

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2016 67:16


    At a Guardian Live event, games editor Keith Stuart asks a panel of designers and programmers what the advances in artificial intelligence mean for games and the people who play them?

    Chilcot: the Iraq war inquiry – Guardian Live event

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2016 85:27


    Following the publication of the Chilcot report, the Guardian’s deputy editor, Paul Johnson, asks a Guardian Live panel how the invasion, occupation and reconstruction of Iraq were mishandled and looks at the wider consequences

    Panama Papers: the biggest leak in history – Guardian Live event

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2016 84:56


    Award-winning investigative journalists from Süddeutsche Zeitung Frederik Obermaier and Bastian Obermayer reveal the inside story behind the biggest leak in history

    What will the world look like in 2025? – Guardian Live event

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2016 91:38


    At the end of a turbulent week, Mark Rice-Oxley and a panel of writers, philosophers and anthropologists take a step back to make their predictions for what our world will look like 10 years from now

    UK votes for Brexit: what happens next? – Guardian Live event

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2016 91:42


    Jonathan Freedland chairs a discussion of what happens after the vote to leave the EU, the biggest political shock for decades

    What next for Syria? – Guardian Live event

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2016 87:03


    As a result of the Syrian conflict, more than half of the country’s population has been displaced. At a Guardian Live event, Middle East correspondent Martin Chulov chairs an expert panel discussing the causes of the refugee crisis and how we can tackle it

    EU debate: countdown to the referendum – Guardian Live event

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2016 67:20


    As the final week of campaigning heats up, the Guardian’s political editor Anushka Asthana and her cross-party panel offer passion and clarity as they ask whether the UK should remain part of the EU

    The next UN secretary general: meet the candidates - Guardian Live

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2016 88:20


    Three of the people standing for UN secretary general present their vision for ‘the world’s most impossible job’

    Free speech under attack - Guardian Live event

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2016 83:01


    An expert panel debates whether there should be limits to what we say and write, and if so, who should decide what is acceptable or not?

    What would Brexit mean for the UK? - Guardian Live event

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2016 89:25


    Guardian writers Polly Toynbee, Larry Elliott, Natalie Nougayrède and Rafael Behr analyse the EU exit and remain campaigns

    Don DeLillo on writing his novel Underworld - books podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2016 57:43


    The American novelist Don DeLillo gives an account of writing his modern masterpiece Underworld to the Guardian book club

    The idiot brain: with Dean Burnett and Robin Ince - Guardian Live evt

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2016 86:28


    Dean Burnett and Robin Ince examine the wonderfully messy, disorganised and often illogical workings of the human brain

    How a woman is made: Sara Pascoe and Laura Bates - Guardian Live event

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2016 52:19


    Zoe Williams chairs a discussion on how sexism has changed in the digital age, the failures of sex education and what can be done to improve equality

    Patrick Kingsley on Europe's refugee crisis - Guardian Live event

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2016 87:04


    Europe is facing a wave of migration unmatched since the end of the second world war. At a Guardian Live event Patrick Kingsley, the Guardian’s migration correspondent, hosted a panel discussion to discuss the political challenges behind the escalating crisis

    Does class matter? Guardian Live event with Owen Jones and Rachel Johnson

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2016 89:38


    Does class still matter and how does it operate in today’s society? At a Guardian Live event, Owen Jones, Rachel Johnson and guests discuss the politics of class and the results of the largest survey of social class conducted in the UK

    Philosopher Slavoj Žižek talks to Gary Younge – Guardian Live event

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2016 80:22


    One of our best known living philosophers discusses immigration, the liberal left and Europe’s future, with columnist Gary Younge

    Panama Papers: the biggest leak in history – Guardian Live event

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2016 81:12


    A panel of Guardian reporters explores the fallout from the Panama Papers and tells the inside story behind the biggest leak in history

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